40 MULCHING 



MULCHING OR SURFACE-DRESSING 



The practice of mulching or surf ace- dressing is of very 

 considerable benefit to crops, and during dry weather its adoption 

 is especially to be recommended. Mulching will prevent the 

 surface soil from forming a hardened crust, and thus retard the 

 evaporation of moisture ; it provides humus in the soil, and in 

 many cases economises labour by checking weeds and doing away 

 with the necessity for frequent watering. The mulch may consist 

 of green vegetable matter or leaves, stable litter or other refuse, 

 which may be spread over the surface of the ground, and either 

 lightly forked into the soil or merely left on the surface as a 

 protective covering. Leaves obtained from the jungle, or any 

 rapidly decaying organic matter that may be available will answer 

 the purpose of a mulch or surface-covering, but certain plants contain 

 a larger proportion of nitrogen than others ; these afford the 

 best mulch and may be grown as cover-crops. The following are 

 some of the principal plants whose leaves or young twigs are 

 commonly used for mulching in Ceylon. 



FOR THE LOW-COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE DRY 

 REGION : 



Adhatoda vasica. "Adathodai." T. - Shrub. 4 to 6 ft. 

 Azadirachta indica. Margosa ; "Kohamba," S. --Small tree ; leaves 



used as mulch in Tobacco cultivation. 



Calotropis gigantea. "Wara," S. Large, quick-growing shrub. 

 Cassia auriculata. " Ranawara." S. " Avari," 7. (Leguminosa^.- A 



sea-coast annual. 

 Coconut husks. Used largely on. and in the neighbourhood of, 



Coconut plantations. (See under Coconuts). 

 Croton lacciferum. "Keppettiya," S. A small tree, the leaves of 



which are commonly used as a mulch in Betel cultivation. 



Erythrina lithosperma. "Dadap." (Leguminosa.-). (See under 

 (ii'ccn Manure.) 



Ricinus communis. Castor-oil plant. A quick-growing, tall annual, 

 naturalised in Ceylon along river banks, etc. 



Tabernaemontana dichotoma. 'Divi-kaduru, ' S. Asm ill tree; 

 leaves used for mulching in low-country. 



Tamarindus indica. Tamarind (Leguminosae). A large tree, leaves 

 commonly used for surface-dressing for Tobacco in dry region. 



Tephrosia Candida. Boga-medelloa. Shrubby perennial, 4 to 7 ft. 

 high. (See under Green-Manuring), 



S=SlNHALKSE; 7 TAMIL 



